Teachers Talk Radio

Suspensions for racist, homophobic, transphobic and ableist abuse in schools have risen sharply but what’s really behind the trend? On this week’s Points of View, we explore the reasons behind rising reports, especially a new BBC one, of prejudicial abuse in schools. Are social media, divisive politics and online influencers shaping attitudes among young people? Have funding cuts to pastoral and anti-bullying support left schools struggling to respond? Or are schools being expected to solve wider societal problems they cannot fix alone? We’ll debate the role of parents, schools and government, ask whether suspensions are the right response, and discuss what practical solutions might actually make a difference. Join us live to share your perspective: Why is prejudicial abuse rising in schools and what should happen next?

Teachers are exhausted, overwhelmed and, in many cases, walking away from the profession. But what is really behind the rise in teacher burnout? Is it workload, poor behaviour, endless accountability and SEND pressures or something deeper in the culture of education itself? In this Points of View, we ask why so many teachers are struggling to sustain the job, whether school leaders and governments are doing enough, and what practical changes could actually make teaching manageable again. Has the profession reached a tipping point or can burnout be turned around? With Dave Brown, Liz Webb, Lucy Trimnell and Maud Waret.

Christopher talks with computer science academic and university teacher Dr Jeremy Straub about the recent history of Artificial Intelligence; its impact on our educational institutions; and the ways in which it might reshape and redefine our notions of education, research and training in the near future.

We talk how to de-stress in the classroom. Join us!

Darren explores whether better task design can reduce cheating in schools and assessments. Drawing on the research of Wenzel and Reinhard (2020), he examines how the structure and design of tasks can influence student honesty, motivation, and decision-making during tests and classroom assessments. From authenticity and challenge to accountability and engagement, this show looks at the evidence behind why some assessment tasks may encourage academic integrity more effectively than others.

Yannick and Tony reflect on the changes in the profession with reference to 10 key areas, and give an opinion for each on whether they have got better or worse. At the end of the show, the hosts will compare notes and consider survey results across the UK in order to make a final conclusion: Is teaching getting harder?

What does it mean to teach with your heart truly in it? This week on The Late Show, Tim Smale and Khanh-Duc Kuttig are joined by the amazing Christian Mba, vice principal, middle leadership developer, and author of Teach Like Your Heart Is On Fire. Together they explore the questions at the heart of Christian's book: why you became a teacher, whether knowing your purpose changes what happens in the classroom, and what it really takes to sustain genuine passion across a career.

Nearly one million young people in the UK are currently out of education and work. Alan Milburn’s explosive new report warns of an "economic catastrophe" driven by lockdown scars, social media rewiring, and a broken welfare system. In this show, join JP, Rae, Carl and Jo as they ask the tough questions. Are schools doing enough to build resilience? Has technology created an anxious generation that the system is simply giving up on?

Darren explores the relationship between test anxiety and school avoidance, examining how anxiety around exams and assessment can contribute to absenteeism, emotionally based school avoidance, and disengagement from learning. Drawing on current educational and psychological research, he discusses the warning signs teachers and parents should recognise, the impact of exam stress on student wellbeing, and the practical strategies schools can use to support anxious pupils before attendance becomes a wider concern.

In March, Index on Censorship reported on a school in Greater Manchester that had pulled 200 books from the school library shelves after the Head raised an issue with one book. With huge parental pressure in the US to censor young people’s access to certain literature, particularly that relating to race, gender and sexuality, is the UK following suit in this worrying trend? In a world where our young people carry access to a whole world of unrestricted material in their pockets, why has the war been waged on literature rather than smartphones and social media?

Louise Pickering meets with Vivienne Porritt OBE to discuss: The concept of masculinity The impact of social media on boys and men The research/evidence behind the concerns How misogyny and sexism manifest in schools How schools can design effective systems and establish a healthy culture that safeguards girls and women

In this special Teachers Talk Radio show, brought to you in partnership with Hachette Learning, hosts Tom Rogers and Sarah Wilkinson Crute are joined by bestselling author Kate Jones to explore her Feedback Resource Guide. Following on from her work on feedback, Kate’s new guide offers over fifty evidence-informed, classroom-ready strategies designed to make feedback more effective, efficient and manageable for teachers. The conversation will explore practical approaches to verbal and written feedback, self and peer assessment, whole-class feedback, audio tools and online feedback resources. With a focus on low-effort, high-impact strategies, this show offers useful takeaways for teachers across subjects, phases and settings.

Teacher wellbeing is at its lowest since 2019. Education Support’s Teacher Wellbeing Index reports that 76% of teachers report high levels of stress, while 36% are at risk of clinical depression. Nearly half of those surveyed said that their school’s culture negatively impacts their mental health. Has wellbeing become a series of token gestures? Why do schools struggle to take meaningful steps to improve staff wellbeing? Is it a fundamental misunderstanding of what is needed to combat low staff morale? Is the problem much bigger than individual institutions? Or is it a toxic culture created by poor leadership?

How do you lead a school on AI when you're operating across multiple curricula, multiple countries, and a staff team that turns over every few years? This Wednesday at 6pm I'm chatting with Rita Bateson on The Twilight Show about her new book International School Leaders' Guide to AI, published by Hachette Learning under the John Catt imprint. Rita brings practical strategies for navigating what she calls the AI labyrinth, written specifically for the realities of international school leadership. We'll dig into where leaders are getting stuck, what's working in schools that have moved early, and how to build something durable rather than reactive.

In this Teachers Talk Radio show, host Famida Choudhary is joined by Cara Zelas to explore how respect in early childhood classrooms is not simply a rule to follow, but a skill that must be intentionally taught, modelled, and experienced. The conversation will highlight practical ways to help young children feel seen, valued, and connected while building classrooms where belonging comes first.

Konstantinos discusses with guest Dr Jonathan Wright how creativity is taught in higher education, exploring risk-taking, imagination, feedback, AI, employability, and the realities shaping contemporary creative classrooms and student experiences.

In this show, Tom Rogers speaks to Welsh headteacher Alun Ebenezer about discipline, behaviour, boundaries and the growing debate over whether schools have become too soft. From closing wellbeing rooms and bringing parents into lessons, to challenging what he sees as a culture of over-labelling and lowered expectations, Ebenezer has become one of the most controversial voices in British education. But are stricter schools exactly what many teachers and parents now want? The conversation explores resilience, SEND and mental health debates, attendance, behaviour culture, parenting, Wales vs England, inclusion, competitive sport, and why some school leaders believe schools have become overly therapeutic. Are firm boundaries the key to restoring standards or is there a danger schools lose compassion in the process?

Join Tom Rogers and Dave Brown for a Teachers Talk Radio special with experienced teacher and author Carmel Bones discussing her new book, Clockwork Classrooms: Solutions for Smoother Running Lessons. Drawing on more than thirty years of classroom experience, Carmel shares practical, time-saving approaches designed to help lessons run more smoothly, reduce friction in the classroom, and make teaching more sustainable. The conversation explores how small changes to routines, interactions and classroom systems can have a major impact on behaviour, workload and learning culture. From simplifying classroom practice to reconnecting educational research with day-to-day teaching reality, this show will unpack the strategies behind “clockwork classrooms” and ask what genuinely helps lessons flow effectively in 2026’s challenging school environment.

In this show, Darren explores the hidden pressures faced by high-achieving students, focusing on the growing impact of imposter syndrome and perfectionism in education. Why do some of the most successful pupils feel as though they are “not good enough”? And how can teachers, parents, and school leaders recognise when academic ambition becomes emotionally damaging? Drawing on current research into student wellbeing, motivation, anxiety, and performance under pressure, Darren examines how perfectionism can fuel exam stress, undermine confidence, and contribute to burnout in academically able learners. Darren also discusses the difference between healthy striving and maladaptive perfectionism, alongside practical, evidence-informed strategies schools can use to support pupils during exam season.

Do you think you'd make a good teacher? Are you thinking of becoming a teacher? Teaching wants you, but do you want teaching? Carl tells you what the brochures don't, so you can make up your own mind.

At Connaught School for Girls in Waltham Forest, frustrated students are directly confronting teachers in the third week of strikes. With GCSE preparations severely disrupted, pupils are demanding the National Education Union members return to class. Teachers, protesting heavy workloads, management issues, potential redundancies and pay cuts, have been seen turning away or standing with keffiyehs and Palestine flags. Parents are bitterly divided - some backing the teachers’ fight for better conditions, others furious that their daughters’ futures are being sacrificed. Is this a necessary stand for workers’ rights, or are students paying the price for adult disputes at the worst possible time? On the panel: Tom Rogers, Dave Brown and Lucy Trimnell.

Great schools don't happen by accident. Behind every turnaround story is a leader who understood that sustainable improvement isn't just about strategy; it's about people. It's about building a culture where staff feel trusted, students feel they belong, and everyone believes that better is possible. Yet so many schools find themselves stuck. They have the data, the development plans, the training days and still the gap between knowing what good looks like and actually getting there remains frustratingly wide. So what makes the difference? What separates the schools that talk about change from the ones that live it? In this episode, we explore the human side of school improvement. What it takes to walk into a school and create the conditions for change, quickly, and in a way that lasts. We dig into the leadership decisions that matter most in the early days, the role culture plays in unlocking or blocking progress, and why the most powerful driver of school improvement has never been a policy or a framework. It's has always been people. Special Guest: Andrea Rosewell.

A major new study has revealed that nearly a quarter of newly-qualified teachers in England never actually enter the profession after training. Researchers point to “reality shock” with workload, administration, lesson planning and long working days among the biggest concerns for trainee teachers. But is workload really the main issue? Or are deeper problems driving graduates away before their careers even begin? On this week’s mid week Points of View, Tom Rogers, JP, Liz Webb and Rae Whitehouse discuss whether teacher training courses are properly preparing people for the realities of the classroom, whether excessive workload has become normalised in schools, and whether teaching today is fundamentally different from what many trainees expect when they begin. The panel will also discuss whether schools are doing enough to support early career teachers, whether the profession is losing people before they even start, and whether the recruitment crisis can really be solved without confronting the retention crisis first.

Tom Rogers is joined by Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the NASUWT, for a special one-off conversation on the biggest issues facing teachers right now. With growing concerns around pay, workload and retention, are we heading towards further industrial action? What’s really driving teachers out of the profession and what needs to change to stop it? The discussion explores funding pressures, maternity rights, behaviour, and the widening expectations placed on schools. Are teachers being asked to do too much? And is the system reaching breaking point?

Michelle sits down with David Didau to challenge the myths around lesson observations. Who are they really for, and are they working? A sharp, thought-provoking conversation on rethinking what effective observation should look like.

In this second show in his series on exam pressure, Darren explores what the research says about reducing student anxiety in assessments. Drawing on evidence-based strategies, he focuses on practical in-school interventions that can make a measurable difference to how students experience tests. From classroom approaches to whole-school practices, this episode offers clear, research-informed insights for teachers and school leaders looking to support student wellbeing and improve performance under pressure.

A school letter has sparked controversy after making extra GCSE revision including weekends compulsory, with consequences for absence. But where is the line between high expectations and excessive pressure? In tonight’s Points of View, we ask: Should schools be able to mandate extra sessions? Do strict systems raise standards or risk burnout? And who decides what’s “too far” when exams are on the line? Join the debate as we explore how far schools should go in the name of results.   Featuring JP, Tom Rogers, Tony Harwood and Michael Wright.

In this special Teachers Talk Radio show, brought to you in partnership with Hachette Learning, hosts Tom Rogers and Charlotte Newman are joined by Joe Kinnaird to explore his new book, Secondary Religious Education in Action. Drawing on classroom experience and the latest research, Joe shares a vision for high-quality RE, one that challenges students to engage deeply with religious and non-religious worldviews, grapple with philosophical and ethical questions, and develop informed, critical responses. The conversation explores practical strategies for curriculum design, teaching disciplinary knowledge, and handling sensitive or controversial topics, alongside a wider discussion about the purpose and value of RE in today’s schools. Check out the book here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/joe-kinnaird-2/secondary-religious-education-in-action/9781915261915/

In this show of Teachers Talk Radio, Famida Choudhary is joined by Amir Taron Ayres to rethink one of education’s most debated classroom tools — worksheets. Moving beyond the idea of worksheets as passive tasks, the conversation explores how teachers can transform routine activities into opportunities for intellectual engagement, discussion, error analysis, collaboration, and deeper learning. Drawing on ideas around alignment, relevance, student thinking, and Charlotte Danielson’s work on active engagement, the episode highlights how worksheets can become scaffolds for meaningful learning experiences rather than simple completion tasks.

A school letter has sparked controversy after making extra GCSE revision — including weekends — compulsory, with consequences for absence. But where is the line between high expectations and excessive pressure? In tonight’s Points of View, we ask: Should schools be able to mandate extra sessions? Do strict systems raise standards or risk burnout? And who decides what’s “too far” when exams are on the line? Join the debate as we explore how far schools should go in the name of results.

We talk how to make meaning out of stress in the classroom.

In this live show Tim is joined by Michael Everett, an educator whose career has taken him from challenging secondary schools in England to international schools in Qatar and Brunei. Together they ask a genuinely provocative question: what would you build if you started from scratch? It is a conversation about what school is actually for, and who gets to decide.

Headteacher Jonathan Sands joins Yannick and Tony to talk about the big binaries! Is DI the only way or is there room for discovery? Do we need rules or are relationships enough? The 'prog' vs 'trad' debate. A reasonable argument or simply a tool for division and toxicity?

Hosts Huma and Toby talk with teachers John and Richard about why graphic novels matter in schools, how they encourage reading for pleasure, and how they support inference, vocabulary and cross-curricular learning from science to history. The episode includes practical classroom examples, age-appropriate suggestions (from wordless picture books to manga and teen titles), evidence on learning impact, and stories of students whose attitudes to reading  is transformed.

Darren looks at the research into the differences, and similarrties, in how test anxiety presents itself in boys and girls.

This is a show for teachers everywhere. Teachers who are exhausted. Teachers who feel under pressure. teachers who feel like they are failing. In other words, all teachers, all the time. Carl explains why the myth of the good teacher is quietly taking the joy out of the job and why we need to embrace the idea of the good enough teacher to rediscover it.

Reform has unveiled plans for a “patriotic curriculum” — including flying the Union Flag in every school, displaying portraits of the King, and reshaping history teaching to focus more heavily on British achievements. Supporters say it’s about restoring national pride, identity and balance in education. Critics argue it risks politicising the classroom and narrowing how history is taught. So where should schools draw the line? 👉 Should education actively promote patriotism? 👉 Is national identity being lost — or protected? 👉 And who decides what version of history gets taught?

Join us for a Late Show special in which Tim sits down with Peter Hyman: former Downing Street speechwriter, co-founder of School 21, and one of the most persistent voices in England for genuine curriculum reform. Together they`ll tackle oracy, the growing crisis around boys in education, whether teachers are part of the problem, and the almost one million young people currently classified as NEET. It is a direct, challenging and at times uncomfortable conversation about whether schools are truly preparing young people for the world they are actually going to live in.

On today's show, I look back at last week's IATEFL conference and discuss some practical tips for teacher professional development.

Hosts Tony and Yannick chat with headteacher Jonathan Sands about his people-centred approach to behaviour management, explaining a ‘reward over sanction’ house-points system that dramatically reduced suspensions and improved attendance and engagement. The show explores tensions between restorative and punitive approaches, centralised behaviour systems, teacher trust and autonomy, and the debate between direct instruction and discovery learning, with practical examples and reflections for school leaders and classroom teachers.

We talk if the sun is actually shining and do things get better? Let's talk it out..

It’s nearly exam season and the countdown, post-Easter, has truly begun. The pressure is on. Revision classes are running before school, after school, lunchtimes. Material is being revisited, practice papers are being circulated, students are requesting psychic predictions of paper content. The holy grail of the fabled study leave experienced by their predecessors is within touching distance and yet… the sense of immediacy somehow feels lacking - like the exams are months rather than days away. Is it worse in 2026 than it has ever been or have we forgotten last year already? Is apathy the name of the game or is it something else? Is it anxiety? Burn out? Boredom through Groundhog Day repetition of the same material? Join The Morning Break team’s discussion as they delve into the classroom experiences and feelings leading up to exam season.

Darren looks into the research behind availability and access to information and considers what this means for student research projects.

Dave Brown speaks to Mehal Shah about the Every Child Achieving and Thriving white paper on education. What does the future of SEND provision look like, how will teaching potentially change in the next 10 years and what are the major barriers to achieving the vision set out by the white paper?

In this show, Famida is joined by De'Shawn Washington to explore “Literacy: Liberating Lives.” Moving beyond phonics and technical skills, the conversation examines how reading can shift from obligation to genuine engagement. Drawing on research, classroom practice, and real-world challenges, the show highlights the growing literacy and communication gap, the importance of fluency and comprehension, and how literacy connects deeply with writing, speaking, and critical thinking. A powerful discussion for educators looking to make reading meaningful, purposeful, and rooted in student voice.

Mehmet speaks with Eve, an English leader passionate about creating truly inclusive classrooms where every student feels seen, heard and valued. Known for her willingness to address challenging topics-from identity and culture to LGBT+ issues and misogyny-Eve shares how she creates safe, honest spaces or meaningful dialogue.

In this week's show, Martin Sketchley has a chat with Joseph Steven Van Dorn about what university teachers should consider when working in South Korea.

This show responds to a Telegraph exclusive claiming progressive policies of managed moves, pressure not to exclude and inclusion practices may keep violent pupils in mainstream schools. The hosts discuss media bias, teacher safety, the limits of inclusion, and how managed moves and alternative provision actually work. They explore possible fixes including clearer boundaries, better funding and support, earlier intervention, and nuanced policies that balance safeguarding staff and students with routes for rehabilitation and redemption. On the panel: Tom Rogers, Liz Webb, JP and Rae Whitehouse.

Deputy head Rachel, working in a primary school in Newham, discusses how schools are responding to needs beyond education, including poverty, food insecurity, toileting and family instability. She outlines practical approaches - home visits, strong induction, clear behaviour policies that involve parents, pastoral teams, wellbeing programmes and community partnerships - and argues that building relationships and embedding mental health support helps attendance, learning and overall pupil wellbeing.

We talk mental health (of course) and how we can be more compassionate in the classroom, alongside all those regular features you know and love.